Practice Report: Cook Returns
Student Boosters host Seminole Uprising Pep Rally this Thursday
TALLAHASSEE, Florida – Sophomore running back Dalvin Cook practiced for the first time this season on Tuesday at the Albert J. Dunlap Athletic Training Facility.
Cook had his indefinite suspension lifted Monday night. The Miami, Fla., native had been working out on his own which made his return seamless.
Cook does not have to go through the NCAA’s five-day acclimatization period because classes have already started so he was dressed out in full pads, splitting first team reps with redshirt junior running back Mario Pender.
“He’s in good shape, good conditioning,” Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher said. “It was a pretty solid first day. He was training on his own and going to his workouts. On his own, he would just go work because we couldn’t do it with him. He obviously showed that he had been doing it.”
“He’s part of the team…put him right in there and go.”
Cook will be an added boost for a Seminole offense that Fisher said “has got to pick it up.”
The sixth-year head coach remains impressed with his defense, however.
“I thought the defense was really sharp and played very well,” Fisher said after practice.
Florida State opens the season against Texas State at 8 p.m. on Sept. 5 inside Doak Campbell Stadium.
Student Boosters host Seminole Uprising Pep Rally this Thursday
Head Coach Jimbo Fisher and the FSU football team will be recognized at the Seminole Student Boosters Seminole Uprising pep rally event along with the volleyball, soccer and cross country teams on Thursday, Aug. 27, at Dick Howser Stadium. Gates will open at 5:30 p.m. and the event will begin at 6:30 p.m. Gene Deckerhoff will host the annual event which will also feature the marching chiefs and FSU cheerleaders. The event is open to the public.
Head Coach Jimbo Fisher Post-Practice Quotes – Aug. 25, 2015
Opening Statement:
“Good work today. I thought the defense was really sharp and played very well. I thought the offense wasn’t very good, maybe because the defense was pretty good. Solid work today, effort was pretty good. The offense’s execution has really got to pick up. It dropped the last day or two for some reason…we’re kicking the ball well.”
On the return of sophomore running back Dalvin Cook:
“He’s in good shape, good conditioning. It was a pretty solid first day.”
“He was training on his own and going to his workouts. On his own, he would just go work because we couldn’t do it with him. He obviously showed that he had been doing it.”
“You tell [the team] he’s back and go on. He’s part of the team…put him right in there and go.”
On the workload of the running backs with Cook out:
“Those young backs, [freshman Jacques Patrick and sophomore Johnathan Vickers] especially. [Redshirt junior Mario Pender] was getting them, but [Patrick] and [Vickers] got a bunch of them and really grew. They were really starting to play good football. I feel comfortable with them getting in the game and what they can and cannot do right now.”
On younger players looking up to Cook:
“One, he’s a naturally strong-willed guy as far as on the field. Guys look up to and respect guys that work hard, play hard, and are good players. He is not an arrogant guy at all. He’s a leader, he takes a lot of time with those younger guys and helps them and is a natural leader on the field. From that standpoint, they look up to him.”
On the team’s second scrimmage last week:
“No significant injuries, we were very lucky.”
“I think our eyes on the defense at times get too aggressive. We’ve got to control that, and the last two days, we’ve put the offense in those types of plays and eye discipline on the defense, and they’ve done a really good job of adjusting to that, which is always…eyes are the key to football. What you see is what you do, and that’s the way you process information. You have to train your eyes to look at the right thing, and sometimes you’re too aggressive. The offense made some really big plays at times but not enough consistency. Then we’d get consistent and could show them that if you take your time, you can move the ball down the field. We have a chance to be a really good football team, we’re just a long ways off from it right now.”
On running back Mario Pender benefits running with the first team:
“He did today. They [Pender and Cook] rotated today, same amount of reps. Pender felt last year like he was the number one, and both of those guys can.”
On injuries:
“[Freshmen] Marcus Lewis and Tarvarus McFadden are still injured. Lewis will probably be a little bit longer than Tarvarus. Hopefully Tarvarus will make it back next week. Lewis has the bone bruise and you never how long that might take. McFadden still has the hamstring.”
“[Sophomore wide receiver] Ja’Vonn Harrison has an MCL. We’re hoping that by the end of this week, beginning of next week that he can be back. We need him back there.”
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